Over in Buffalo, New York, one public elementary school has found a creative way to help students discover the joy of reading. Arthur O. Eve School of Distinction #61 has just unveiled a brand-new book vending machine in the school library, filled with Scholastic books!
To encourage reading in and out of school, all students in grades PreK–4 will have the opportunity to earn tokens through a rewards system including monthly visits to the library, which they can then exchange for free books of their choosing from the machine. Buffalo Public Schools unveiled the book vending machine on Tuesday, November 27th with a ribbon cutting ceremony. You can check out the highlights from the event on the Good News Network, The Buffalo News, Popsugar, Fatherly, WBFO Radio, WIVB-TV, WGRZ-TV, and more.
The Book Vending Machine, created by Global Vending Group, was purchased by School 61’s after-school partner, the Community Action Organization (CAO), which also donated $1,000 for book purchase. Books were donated by Scholastic and John Mika, founder of The Teacher's Desk, who has also offered to keep the machine stocked year-round.
This unique vending machine also seems to have caught the eye of authors, parents, educators, and book lovers on social media. Take a look at some of the great tweets, below!
How cool ... the first book vending machine in one of our Buffalo Public schools. Kids earn tokens and get a free book! Hey, authors, anyone want to help keep it filled? #kidsneedbooks pic.twitter.com/pk4NYrH5lp
— Dee Romito (@writeforapples) November 27, 2018
I LOVE this. Book vending machine for pre-k to 4th graders in a school looking to improve literacy. Gold coins are given and every child will have a chance to go home with a new book. #BooksAreBrainCandy https://t.co/l7VCm47RdD
— Anna Shinoda (@AnnaShinoda) November 29, 2018
Had a great time at Buffalo Public School #61 today celebrating the arrival of their new book vending machine. Kids earn tokens and get a free book! How cool is that! pic.twitter.com/QqXPQYpUJ2
— Elizabeth Coburn (@coburnwrites) November 27, 2018
This is spectacular! A public school in Buffalo has this in their library. Kids earn tokens and can use them to choose books. @Scholastic pic.twitter.com/nLfBu3kxKr
— Lauren Tarshis (@laurenTarshis) November 28, 2018
This a great idea: Arthur O Eve primary school in Buffalo NY installs a vending machine for books that accepts reward tokens from pupils https://t.co/rWgYHKE6C8
— Richard Adams (@RichardA) November 30, 2018
Students at School 61 found a treat in their library: a vending machine that dispenses books! Students earn tokens for the books through a reward system. @TeachersDeskBuf has donated books and has offered to keep the machine stocked, along with donations from @Scholastic. pic.twitter.com/JNdC3EgXGi
— Spectrum News BUF (@SPECNewsBuffalo) November 27, 2018
.@Buffalo_Schools #61 students use new book vending machine to read a book!! #reading @WBFO pic.twitter.com/JBgmC3lE8h
— eileen buckley (@eileenwbfo) November 27, 2018
Hidden Figures and Pippi Longstocking are just a few of the books students at Arthur O. Eve School of Distinction #61 have to choose from in their new book. vending machine! @WGRZ pic.twitter.com/qhXo2FxmJe
— Karys Belger (@KarysBelger) November 27, 2018
You've heard of vending machines for candy, but how about this?
— Muhammad Lila (@MuhammadLila) December 3, 2018
In a small school in Buffalo, there's a vending machine for books.
When a child signs out a book at the library, they get a token. When they have enough, they use them in the vending machine to get free books. pic.twitter.com/ARWjPBxL1v
Cast your eyes on this book vending machine! The 1st placed in a Western NY school (Buffalo). Splendid Ribbon Cutting Ceremony! What a way to champion kids & reading. Ss are awarded incentive tokens to “buy” a book for free! Genius! #literacy #reading #ILA #nysra pic.twitter.com/juVUcbO5nm
— sandra athans (@sandra_athans) November 30, 2018
